Gender Adviser Condemns Initiation Of Underage Girls
By JKM
The Presidential Adviser on Gender Affairs, Isatu Jabbie Kabbah, has declared that minors must be fully protected from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), stressing that no child should be subjected to the practice under any circumstances.
Speaking at a government press briefing held at the Miatta Conference Centre, Kabbah clarified that although Sierra Leone does not yet have a comprehensive national ban on FGM, existing child protection laws do not support the procedure for minors.
She emphasized that ongoing advocacy efforts are focused on ending the initiation of children into the Bondo society, the traditional institution where FGM is commonly performed.
Describing FGM as a deeply rooted cultural rite of passage, Kabbah noted that the practice involves the partial or total removal of female genitalia for non-medical reasons and poses serious health risks.
The Gender Adviser proposed that the practice, where it persists, should be limited strictly to consenting adults aged 18 and above, allowing individuals the maturity to make informed decisions about their bodies.
Her remarks come amid growing national and international calls for stronger legal measures to protect women and girls, with human rights groups continuing to advocate for the complete abolition of FGM for minors.
